( I wrote this poem when I was 13, and it was published in a young student author’s anthology when I was 15. For some reason, I randomly remembered it while leaving Starbucks yesterday.)

looking up, i see the sun
the greener grass, the battle won
a wind-chilled fear–the best is lost!
as envy rises, i have to cross
the land in sight, my heart-race high
no boat to ride, no wings to fly
a desperate sense of nothingness
a challenged pride will not be less
i fall again, waves stream around
my eyes shall stay on greener ground
the things i want on distant shore
and could near have
if i were more.